Private Residence
Houston, Texas

Construction Period: 18 months, Completed in 2001

Project Team

Hill Swift Architects, Architect

Matrix Structural Engineers, Structural Engineer

Habicon Interiors, Interior Design

P&G Designs, Landscape Design

Creekstone Custom Homes, General Contractor

Moss Landscaping, Landscape Contractor

Front of House

This residence for a family of five conveys the warmth, comfort, and intimate scale of the nineteenth century English Arts and Crafts movement while providing the conveniences and technologies of the twenty-first century. The 2 1/2 story home and 2 story garage are finished in plaster and stone with casement windows, exposed wood beams, and a slate and copper roof. Interior finishes include flagstone, wide plank oak flooring, stained oak wainscoting, and ceramic tile.

Site Planning
The 75’ x 150’ property is located in Houston and backs up to a Harris County flood control easement. The structure faces to the west and is organized along the east/west axis of the site in order to minimize the width of the house and to maximize natural light, breezes, and view.

Study, North Elevation

Planning
The house is organized along an entrance hall that extends from the front door to the kitchen and great room, which are oriented towards the back yard. A stair hall connects the entrance hall to the upstairs bedroom floor and the children’s playroom located within the attic of the structure. Three hearths provide for focal points in the house: the living room inglenook, the great room fireplace, and a kitchen hearth.

Exterior finishes
The 2 1/2 story structure is faced with white rough coat plaster walls and a gray ashlar stone base. The primary roof is sheathed with black slate and the smaller dormer roofs and canopies are clad in copper. The exterior trim, columns, beams, and windows are accented with shades of blue, green, and yellow.

Interior Finishes
The first floor interior walls are typically finished in an off white eggshell paint. The entrance hall, stair hall, living room, and dining room are additionally finished with stained oak wainscoting. The first floor is finished with wide plank oak flooring in the entrance hall, living room, dining room and study, and polished flagstone in the front entrance, mudroom, kitchen and great room, and the screened porch..
There are three hearths in the house; the living room inglenook, the great room hearth and a kitchen cooking hearth containing a stove and microwave oven.
The second floor finishes are typically painted walls and ceilings, carpet, and painted trim.

All photos this page © Hester + Hardaway